Automatic train-pipe connector.



R. E. ADREON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6.1916.

w IENTOIR @M/WI@ Patented Aug. 20, 1918'.

QQ 4g 4 a NETE |12 jRoBEnT-n. ADREON, Yor sT. LoiiIs,.1v1IssoU1tI, AssIGNon, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, ro

THEwEsTINGHoUsE AIR BRAKE coMPANYor'w1LMERDING, rENivsYLvANIA, 4A

coR'roRA'rIoiv or 11 ENNsYLvANIA .Y

To vall whom imag `'concern "Be it known that' I', ROBERT ADRON' a lcitizen of the United States, residingat t. Louis, inthe State of Missouri, have inventfed 'a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic TrainlPipe Connectors, of 4which pulled apart. ,j I yWith the present form of automatic train improvement the following is a specication.

This invention relates todevice's for; coupling trainpipes between the cars of atrain automatically, and has for its object to provide an improved devic'eof this character which ,shallq be automatically advanced or f projected outward when the two `cars .come

A together the act of'couplingand.be withdrawn when the cars :are uncoupled .and

`(pipe couplings, as heretofore used, the abutting connector heads "normally stand some 'distance in advance of the draw bar andare subjected to damaging ",blowstand rough treatment duringthe shifting and "coupling of cars, while, according to my"i`inprovey ment, the normal position ofthe connector head is some distance ,backV where it is protected, andwdoes Ynotengage with thecounter' part connector on 'the'adjacent car that is being coupledl up', ,until the coupling of thed'r'a'w bars is nearly completed.

ln the yaccompanying drawing :l Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of the yend ofacar frame with parts broken away and showing a portion of the connector1 device in horizontal section; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the same, with portions indicated in elevation; and, Fig. 3, an end elevation.

According to the construction shown, the train pipe connector head, 4, is provided with gathering arms, 4a, and pipe connections, 4", and is mounted to have a pivotal movement and a longitudinal adjustment in the hanger, 5, attached to the draw bar, 6. The hanger may be of a yoke shape having two side bars carrying a horizontal pin, 7, on which is mounted a slidable yoke, 8, at the forward end of which the connector head, 4, is pivotally attached by means of a lug, 9, and a vertical pin, 10. In this way, the connector head has both horizontal and vertical swin 'ng movements, and with the yoke, 8, may e adjusted or moved longitudinally through the hanger.

. rAtrioiviA'iic TRAIN-PIPE coivriricrron.4

Specification of Letters iatent. Patented Aug.. 20, 8 j ppiieatinfiea october 6,1916.:i senaiNo. 12eme.y

According to my improvement, this longi- ,tudinal movement of theconnector head is effectedautomatically by the coming together and thc separation of fthe cars in the 'act of coupling and uncoupling, and for this 'purpose the yoke, 8, is provided with a dr'awl-bar and having Vits upper 'end connected by attain, 14:, with the' Platform buffer, 1,5, having springs, 16,` A spring,'18, normally tends to project the connector headoutward toits advanced or coupled position, and this spring maybe conveniently Y mounted on the stem, 11, between'the yoke `t, and an abutment carried by the hanger or'draw bar, this abutment being shownfin the form of a yoke, 17 pivotally mounted on the the pin, 7, on thelhanger.

The springs, 16,'0f the platforinbuifer arek 'of greater 'strength than" .the4` vconnector spring, 18, so that whenlthecars Vare uncoupled, the platform buffer'is'extended andthe f lever, 13, is' actuated towithdraw the oonnector headto its inner protected position,

as f indicated in y full lines, withk the spring, 18, compressed. In this position the con- 'nector head islocated backof the outer endv ofthe draw bar coupler, and 'isnot exposed to damage from prematurecontact withthel dling and attempted coupling of the cars.

When the cars are brought together in the act of coupling, and the platform buffers are forced inward to compress the springs, 16, the spring, 18, is then free to expand and project the connector headV outward to the'V coupled position, also turning the lever, 13,'

to the position indicated in dotted lines. During this movement, the gathering arms of the counterpart connector heads engage each other and the heads are coupled to gether. As the yoke, 8, slides forward on the pin, 7, additional freedom of vertical and lateral movement of the connector head is obtained due to the form of the yoke which preferably provides a wider space between the arms toward the rear than at the forward end where the space is about equal to the diameter of the pin, 7.

When the cars are uncoupled and separated, the springs, 16, of the platform buflfers expand to move the buers outwardy other connector headduring the rough hanand withdraw the yoke and connector heads to the inner uncoupled position.

As the connector heads do not come into engagement until the coupling ,of the draw 'bars has :been very nearly completed, it will not be necessary to have wide gathering range, consequently the gathering arms may be made much shorter than those heretofore used, and the construction otherwise simv nector head may have an independent movement'after the buffer is` compressed.

2. In an automatic train p ipe connector, the combination Vof a longitudinally movable :connector head., a hanger attached to the draw bar for supporting said head, a ybutler separate from the draw bar, and means operated by the .buffer for shifting said connector head. y Y

3. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination cfa longitudinally movable connector head, .a hanger orsuppcrting said head, .a Yyielding buii'er, and .a spring controlled vby the yielding movement of the buffer for projecting sai-fd connector head forward.

4. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of ya longitudinally movable connector head, a hanger .for supporting said head, a spring actuated buEer, `andmeans loperated by the outward movement of the bulier for withdrawing said connector head.

5. MIn an automatic train pipe connector,

thecombination of a longitudinally Imoi/'able connector head, a hanger attached Lto the draw fbar for supporting said head, -a spring actuated buffer, and means operated by the yielding movement of the buffer for projecting the connector head and by the outward movement of the buii'er for withdrawing the conneCQr head.

6. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a longitudinally movable connector head, a hanger attached `te the ldraw bar k:for supporting said head, aspring ,actuated buffer, fa lever pivotally mounted on the draw bar, a vconnection fromone :end of the lever to .the buiiier, and a .connection from the other .end of fsaid lever tothe connector head.

7. In an automatic train .pipe connector, the combllationcf a hanger .attached to the draw har, and having a horizontal pin, a .yoke slidably mounted on said pin, aconnector head ...connected `to the Yforward end .of said yoke .by va vertical pivot, another yoke secured to .the hanger ,and a spring between said yokes for forcing said yoke forward on said pin. Y l

f8. In an kautomatic train pipe connector, .the combination of a hanger'jattached to the draw bar, .a yoke slidably vmounted on said hanger, `a connector `head pivotally connect- .ed vto .the forward end of said yoke, a spring for forcing the yoke' .and connector head forward,fa springactuated buifenand .a connection from said buiier tor withdrawing ,the yoke 'and connector head.

In `testimony whereof I have hereunto `.set

myy .hand- ROBERT ADBEON- Gopics of 'this patent may be Aobtained 'for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. y Washingtomn. 

